Today's mail held a large envelope from The White House. Inside was a certificate signed by George Bush, President of the United States:

"The United States of America honors the memory of (my brother). This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States."

I have been surprised how quickly the gov't has taken care of details pertaining to my brother's death in May. I find myself wondering if this is because we're at war.

Also, I didn't know family members got these certificates--we didn't get one for my dad, that I recall or have found in the family papers, but he didn't die in a military facility, so perhaps that's the difference.

I am thinking prayerfully of other families who have lost relations, and get these certificates. It is so sad to get mail for dead people.

I never thought I'd be without family at such a young age. Time to write!

jazziz1

08-05-2004, 04:02 AM

I'm so sorry to hear of your brother's death, Gala. My thoughts are with you!

arrowqueen

08-05-2004, 04:18 AM

My sympathies to you and your family on your loss.

aq

Gala

08-05-2004, 04:55 AM

Thanks! Your responses mean a lot. Except for all of my immediate family being gone, I have a great life. And I believe in the afterlife, which means I'll hook up with them again.

But man, I really dread checking the snail mail. Some days it's funny though--like that co. that sends Mom letters, "It's not too late to stop smoking." Always gives me a laugh.

I am thinking of people whose relatives are coming home from Iraq in body bags. I suppose I'm "lucky" in that my brother died peacefully in his sleep.

Tonight a friend told me these matters are handled differently by presidents and administrations, and that Reagan hand wrote letters to families of soldiers killed in a conflict during his administration.

I have a letter Omar Bradley sent my dad in the 40s or 50s, thanking him for his work against the "axis powers" in Asia.

Interesting stuff. Geeze, I wish there was no need for the military.

absolutewrite

08-05-2004, 01:34 PM

Except for all of my immediate family being gone...

Gala, my heart just broke for you. Please come over. Anthony and I would be happy to adopt you. But I warn you: No adopted child of ours is going to go through life without watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! :grin

Seriously, many hugs to you. :hug

Gala

08-05-2004, 08:21 PM

I see it's out on DVD. I looked at the blurbs on Amazon, and it's not what I'd expected based on the title. Sounds nice and dark and full of symbols. Great!

Yeah, it's pretty sad, ain't it? Never imagined my life this way. I have a lot of empathy for the foster kids I advocate for, let me tell ya. People have advised, "Just find your tribe...more real than blood family..." Not so far. But I do have many wonderful friends and opportunities in life. And my cat loves me.

There's a lot to be said for "finding your Tribe." I lived, worked, and thrived within my own for many years. To that such a group can become closer than family sounds like so much hyperbole, but it's true.

Unfortunately, most aren't walking around with signs on their back, proclaiming, "Hey you! Wanna' join?" It's no easy thing to find "the" Tribe. Most of the time, it just finds you.

People are such strange critters, uh?

My best to you, Gala.

Gala

08-05-2004, 09:08 PM

That's encouraging news, Liam. God knows I've exhausted human skills looking for tribe, and that even before my family was all dead.

Here's a kid-face for you from another member of your tribe (he even has red hair like me)....

http://pages.prodigy.net/indianahawkeye/newpage16/2.gif

Betty W01

08-08-2004, 06:06 AM

Gala, so sorry to hear about your brother's death, and so glad to hear President Bush recognized your loss. As for this member of a grateful nation (words you never forget, once you've heard them), thank you for your brother's service to our country and may God's blessing be with you and your family as you learn to live without him.

http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/edhalfm.gif

When our daughter died (in a car wreck while on active duty), we got personal letters and telegrams from the Sec. of the Navy, both the Superintendent and the Commandant of the US Naval Academy, and several congressmen.

All we got from Pres. Clinton was a vague message of sympathy passed on to us and the other two families involved, by word of mouth. We never got anything from the White House, not even a form letter, so you can imagine how we felt when we heard on the news that at about the same time, Clinton found time to personally write a letter of congratulations to that year's Heisman (sp?) Trophy winner.

!!

Guess it showed what he thought was important...

He did later meet very briefly with me and my older son at what would have been her graduation ceremony, since we were already there and so was he, but I felt it was too little, too late (by about 5 mo.) to try to make up for his oversight. I'm so glad your experience has been different. The one thing sadder than getting such a certificate would be having your loss glossed over.

Gala

08-09-2004, 10:04 PM

I laugh at those funny faces. I gotta get out more and find some on the web. (trust me, a cursory google might get me purusing sites for too long; no no no.)

Thanks for the laughs and support you guys!

And Betty, once again I'm sorry about your daughter. Thanks for sharing those further details of what our gov't did later. I had never thought of such things until I got my letter the other day, and indeed the behaviour of various Presidents in the matter is different.